Changeable directory-board.



UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. MOSHER, MICHAELJ. SCI-IEEL, AND vEDWARD II. Il. .MARTINGQ OFl CLEVELAND, OHIO.-

CHANGEABLE'DIRECTORY-BOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 705,275, dated July 22, 1902. l

Apulicetion led JulylZ, 1901.

To all whom, t may concern: p

Be it known that we, FRANK B. MosHER, MICHAEL J. SCHEEI., and EDWARD H. H. MARTING, citizens of the UnitedStates, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga. and State of Ohio, have invented certain new l and useful Improvements in Changeable Directory-Boards; and We do declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention relates to improvements in.. changeable directory-boards; and the object of the invention is to provide a directoryboard which is simple and cheap in construction and at the same time is convenient in use.

To these ends the invention consists in the construction of the board and in the combination and arrangement of parts thereof, all substantially as shown and described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Eigurel is.y a front elevation of Vour improved directoryboard with a part of the frame at the vright broken away. Eig. 2 is a vertical central sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a Vcrosssection of the board and its parts looking down and taken on a line running through a row of the key-shaped holes for the character-` blocks. Fig. 4 is a perspective rear view of one of the letter or character blocks adapted to be used with, this construction of board; and Fig. 5 is a perspective rear view of a section or portion of the board proper in or upon which the characters are, adapted-to beatp tached, all as hereinafter fully described.

In the foregoing views, A represents the g frame of the board. This framev may be of wood, metal, orother suitable material and of any convenient size and in any desired style, the character, size, and style ofthe frame depending Inuch on the place where it is to be used and on the furnishings of which it may become a part. In this instance the frame is shown in cross-section as being a metallic structure provided about its inner edge with an inwardly-projecting ilange a. Behind said iiange and at the inner edge of more than this inutility and value.

Serial No. 68,120. (No model.)

the frame we attach angle-iron strips 2, which are permanently affixed to the frame by screws and serve as the immediate support of t-he board-B. The said Lboard or letter-supporting plate, asA it is in this instance, is fastened'to said angle-iron strips by means of screws, so that it can be removed when desired.

Often'it becomes convenient to ysubstitute one 'style of board or plate for another, because the invention contemplates a number of uses in addition to that of directory-board. In fact, the invention may be used in a great many ways and places quite far removed from mere directory uses. For' example, it is admirably adapted to kindergarten-work in the schools,where children are taught their letters and Word building or construction and where it is also desirable often to be able to work out designs other than by letters to instruct the child. Itis also convenient for writing texts and other matter in Sunday- Vschools and for noting texts or hymns or even .notices in church services; also, for use .in

theaters, hotels, restaurants, ofice-buildings, engine-houses, and for many other uses not necessary, to be enumerated here, so that while'for convenience we refer tothe invention hereinas a directory-board it is much Now in view of these manyuses of our new and improved board it frequently becomes desirable to substitute the board or plate B, to which the characters are directly attached, by another.which is adaptedto have the work donethereon possibly in an entirely dierent form or style. In the present case we show the board B as provided with a series of holes 5of substantially keyhole shape, arranged'in lines perpendicularly and horizontally. This is a good arrangement of holes for straight-across or up-and-down work, as in plain directory-boards,where vthe Anames are to be placed one above another. It is also a good style for many1 other uses; but for some uses it might be very undesirable, and hence the board B is made removable and interchangeable with others, according to the special circumstances or needs at agiven time or place. This is easily done, as the board is secured to the angle-iron strips by screws removable from the front when the glass window Ghas been removed. As shown here, the depth of the frame is somewhat greater than the depth of the board, so that it can be easily raised over the lower flange and lifted in or out. At the front of said board the glass G occupies iirst its own metallic frame 4, which rests within flanges a. The depth of the space within said flanges in frame Alikewise is such as compared with the glass frame that said glass can be raised and lifted out on occasion, but is otherwise confined within the frame. This arrangement of parts makes any changes in the board easy and convenient.

D represents one of the letter or character blocks upon which a single letter or figure may be imprinted, impressed, engraved, or otherwise produced or upon which one or more characters may appealgas may be found convenient. These blocks are preferably rectangular in shape and adapted to occupy such space at their sides that they come close side by side and form practically an unbroken line. If there be unoccupied holes or openings, they can either be left open or be occupied with dummies, so as to keep up appearances, and for schoolwork figures or designs of any fanciful kind may be placed on, the blocks, so as to be complete in themselves or to work out designs of a largersize.

These blocks can be applied to the board by simply removing the glass front.

The Shanks 6 of the character-blocks D have flat sides and semirouud heads 7 and fit snugly in the slots of the keyholes 5. Each character has its own keyhole and all are alike in these particulars.

The round head of each block D is slipped into the circular opening of the keyhole 5, then pushed down into the slot of said keyhole. The shank 6 lits snugly in said slot and prevents the block from turning or moving sidewise, While the head 7 prevents it 'from dropping out.

What We claim is- The frame A having integral flange a and removable right-angled strips 2 about its inside, in combination with board B having a series of holes 5 scattered over its surface and fixed about its edge to said strips, and the glass G having metallic frame 4 about its edge and removably supported between flan ge a and strips 2, substantially as described.

Vitness our hands to the foregoing specification this lst day of July, 1901.

FRANK B. MOSHER. MICHAEL J. SCHEEL. EDlVARD II. ll. MARTING.

Witnesses:

R. B. Mosnn, 1I. E. MUDRA. 

